Proximate, Phytochemical and Vitamin Compositions of Cucumis metuliferus (Horned Melon) Rind

Abstract

Cucumis metuliferus also known as horned melon is a plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family which has been reported to have medicinal value. Every part of the plant is consumed, except the rind, although edible is mostly discarded as waste. Solid food waste contributes to greater percentage of pollution in our environment. Therefore, to minimize food wastage, the nutritional and medicinal value of the rind need to be evaluated to promote its usage. Hence, this study was aimed to investigate the proximate, phytochemical and vitamin compositions of the rind of Cucumis metuliferus. The analyses were carried out using standard methods. The proximate analyses showed that the rind contained high concentrations of carbohydrate (54.84%), moisture (18.40%) and crude fibre (11.34%); moderate concentration of crude fat (8.89%) with low concentration of ash (3.59%) and crude protein (2.95%). From the result of the phytochemical analysis, the rind contained varied concentrations of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids and phenol. The result also showed that the rind is rich in vitamins C, E, D, B9 and A with appreciable concentrations of vitamins B2, K, B1 and β-carotene which were all above the recommended daily vitamin allowance. The high concentration of these nutrients and phytochemicals proves that the rind of Cucumis metuliferus has nutritive and medicinal value. Therefore, the rind could be useful as food supplements and in pharmaceutical preparations.